| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Prince Otto by Robert Louis Stevenson: administered. The welcome word about his wife and the virtuous
ending of his interview should doubtless have delighted him. But
for all that, as he shouldered the bag of money and set forward to
rejoin his groom, he was conscious of many aching sensibilities. To
have gone wrong and to have been set right makes but a double trial
for man's vanity. The discovery of his own weakness and possible
unfaith had staggered him to the heart; and to hear, in the same
hour, of his wife's fidelity from one who loved her not, increased
the bitterness of the surprise.
He was about half-way between the fountain and the Flying Mercury
before his thoughts began to be clear; and he was surprised to find
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Sportsman by Xenophon: flanks, a mean between large and small; the hips (or "couples")
rounded, fleshy behind, not tied together above, but firmly knitted on
the inside;[9] the lower or under part of the belly[10] slack, and the
belly itself the same, that is, hollow and sunken; tail long,
straight, and pointed;[11] thighs (i.e. hams) stout and compact;
shanks (i.e. lower thighs) long, round, and solid; hind-legs much
longer than the fore-legs, and relatively lean; feet round and cat-
like.[12]
[1] Pollux, v. 7; Arrian, "Cyn." iv.
[2] {meteora}, prominent. ?See Sturz, s.v.
[3] {tas diakriseis batheias}, lit. "with a deep frontal sinus."
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Baby Mine by Margaret Mayo: any----"
" Yes," interrupted Aggie and Zoie in chorus, "we know."
"How long," continued Zoie impatiently, "is it going to take you
to slip down that fire-escape?"
"That depends on how fast I 'slip,' " answered Jimmy doggedly.
"You'll 'slip' all right," sneered Zoie.
Further exchange of pleasantries between these two antagonists
was cut short by the banging of the outside door.
"Good Heavens!" exclaimed Aggie, glancing nervously over her
shoulder, "there's Alfred now. Hurry, Jimmy, hurry," she cried,
and with that she fairly forced Jimmy out through the bedroom
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from In Darkest England and The Way Out by General William Booth: SECTION 7.--ENQUIRY OFFICE FOR LOST PEOPLE.
Perhaps nothing more vividly suggests the varied forms of
broken-hearted misery in the great City than the statement that 18,000
people are lost in it every year, of whom 9,000 are never heard of any
more, anyway in this world. What is true about London is, we suppose,
true in about the same proportion of the rest of the country.
Husbands, sons, daughters, and mothers are continually disappearing,
and leaving no trace behind.
In such cases, where the relations are of some importance in the world,
they may interest the police authorities sufficiently to make some
enquiries in this country, which, however, are not often successful;
In Darkest England and The Way Out |
